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Understanding 9/11[Chevrolet Sales Convention Musical]
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Rare record of song-and-dance at a Chevrolet sales convention, designed to motivate the sales force.
Shotlist
Musical stage show opening production number.
<BR>
- Addeddate
- 2002-07-16 00:00:00
- Ccnum
- asr
- Closed captioning
- no
- Collectionid
- 10013
- Color
- C
- Country
- United States
- External-identifier
-
urn:cid:bafybeiavhrqkpvdnxrvovzuhd274clvf4q7kehx3de46avymyjlv7s62ki
![[Filecoin]](/images/filecoin-small.png "[Filecoin]")
- Fil-transport
- boost
- Identifier
- Chevrole1954
- Identifier-commp
- baga6ea4seaqb4j4zh6ncw4q6d2xmegy4cstkdqy7py6qhv4wkkore4sebway2ja
- Numeric_id
- 256
- Proddate
- 1954-55?
- Run time
- 15:15
- Sound
- Sd
- Type
- MovingImage
- Whisper_asr_module_version
- 20230731.02
comment
Reviews
(12)
Reviewer:
Robin_1990
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 10, 2008
Subject: Delightful
Subject: Delightful
Admittedly the musical is very low-budget and the dancing could be much better, But the singing is first-rate! The songs are quite catchy, and I might
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put them on my iPod. Who knew propaganda could be so much fun?
Reviewer:
bread
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 18, 2006
Subject: wonderful
Subject: wonderful
this wonderfully kitchy and campy film is very enjoyable and lots of fun.the music numbers are a treat and the dresses are really nice.it's kitch, it's
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campy and it's fun! a treat for fans of musicals and Ephemeral films! being one of the few photographic records of one of these events makes it very historically important. much better than expected, well worth large download!
Reviewer:
Spuzz
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 13, 2005
Subject: Does not star Dinah Shore
Subject: Does not star Dinah Shore
When I first heard of this, I SO thought it was going to be an amateur production made by Chevrolet employees. But alas, this is not the case, because
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off of the people who are performing here obviously sound, dance and and professionally. The Âmusical is broken up into 3 musical numbers. ThereÂs no real talking, just the music, and musically, theyÂre just ok, although I have no idea what the songwriters were smoking during the map number. You can also tell that this was probably an official film made of this musical, as the camera knows exactly where to go, and thereÂs evidence of multiple camera work here. So this is obviously quite polished. The one thing that threw me off is the ugly staging happening. This looks like a high school stage. (mind you, with a somewhat glittery  but still ugly  curtain).
Reviewer:
ERD
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favoritefavorite -
September 16, 2005
Subject: Dated now
Subject: Dated now
Industrial shows like this may have been good in 1954, but it is very dated now. FOr the general audience, it is boaring.
Reviewer:
MrMovie
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 27, 2005
Subject: Amazing !
Subject: Amazing !
Okay, I guess that one really needs to toss themselves back in time to the days when this was quite popular. Although I was very young at the time I have
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a vague recollection of seeing productions like this as a small child because my dad owned a retail store that sold Westinghouse appliances. Westinghouse would have these dealer conventions and once or twice he took me along. What I do remember is the shows. The slam-bang song and dance numbers. (Slam-bang for the time) Watching this today, I couldn't help but wonder when Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire was going to jump out from one of those spots on the map. An MGM Musical it ain't but what we have here is a timeless treasure, a bit of Americana, and a piece of film that captures the essense of days gone by.
Reviewer:
Unidyne
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 27, 2005
Subject: A rare example of an "Industrial Musical"
Subject: A rare example of an "Industrial Musical"
In the 1950's into the late 1970's, a way to motivate middle management in corporations was to ship everyone out for a major convention, have the CEO and
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his underlings give speeches (written for them by professionals), and the last day would be the highlight...a full-blown stage show featuring their own company!
Many of these shows featured performers between shows, as well as the (uncredited) works of top-notch writers and composers. Wilson Stone, who worked on several of these musicals, commented: "It's an easy thing to write a song about love. It's hard to write a song about spark plugs."
With the availability of high-reslution video projection and multi-media presentation technology, these stage shows became less and less frequent, fading out completely in the late 1980's. Still, they have their fans, there is a collectors market for many of the "original cast albums" that were given away (many being the only reminder that these shows ever existed), and they remain an odd memento of times past.
A complete description of the Industrial Musical can be read here:
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Industrial-musical
This particular film appears to be a dress rehursal of a Chevrolet sponsored industrial musical. Sit back, enjoy, and don't forget to sell!
Many of these shows featured performers between shows, as well as the (uncredited) works of top-notch writers and composers. Wilson Stone, who worked on several of these musicals, commented: "It's an easy thing to write a song about love. It's hard to write a song about spark plugs."
With the availability of high-reslution video projection and multi-media presentation technology, these stage shows became less and less frequent, fading out completely in the late 1980's. Still, they have their fans, there is a collectors market for many of the "original cast albums" that were given away (many being the only reminder that these shows ever existed), and they remain an odd memento of times past.
A complete description of the Industrial Musical can be read here:
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Industrial-musical
This particular film appears to be a dress rehursal of a Chevrolet sponsored industrial musical. Sit back, enjoy, and don't forget to sell!
Reviewer:
Christine Hennig
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 23, 2005
Subject: Singing and Dancing Their Way to Increased Chevrolet Sales
Subject: Singing and Dancing Their Way to Increased Chevrolet Sales
Apparently, the way to inspire car salesmen to really go out and sell is to show them a Broadway-style musical on that theme, or so it was in the 50s at
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Chevrolet. This singing and dancing sales pep talk gives you a real feel of the corporate culture at Chevrolet at the time, though what it actually says about it I donÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt want to touch with a ten-foot pole. Rogers and Hammerstein these guys ainÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt, though they sure try hard. As you might guess, this is tremendously campy and could be used to torture folks who like to think theyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂre cool. ItÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs rock and roll that killed this sort of thingÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂwhether or not it was murder or justifiable homicide is up to the viewer to decide.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: *****. Weirdness: *****. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: *****.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: *****. Weirdness: *****. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: *****.
Reviewer:
dc8ray
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
November 20, 2004
Subject: What, and give up show biz?
Subject: What, and give up show biz?
Lord, I don't know where to start with this one. High production values and cost. I suspect this was performed live more than once. The line that keeps
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popping up is "50 million bank accounts to draw upon", which confirms most peoples' ideas about car salesman. Kind of fun to watch for the gee whiz factor (check out the zip code musical for even more gwz factor). Overall, worth the download.
Reviewer:
jdwhy
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
July 29, 2004
Subject: Very Interesting
Subject: Very Interesting
I guess in order to appreciate this musical, you have to put yourself deeply into the time-frame it was made. It's interesting to watch the first segment
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and try to spot the singers who later do the "pop-up" thing. By the way, can anyone make out what the lady from the "Great Eastern Region" is saying after she says"We've got Senators, and ?????" Sounds like "up-set-seas" to me.
Reviewer:
AliceTeeple
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 19, 2004
Subject: good lord!!!!!!!!
Subject: good lord!!!!!!!!
Aside from the frightening costumes and overly-staged dance routines about buying Chevrolets, the women popping out of the map HAS to be one of the most
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disturbing images I have ever seen in a musical. This makes "Cats" look like Masterpiece Theatre!!!! Overly-stagey-operatic voices telling you to market people on farms galore. Not to be missed!!!!!!!!
Reviewer:
JonathanBrit
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
May 27, 2003
Subject: Watch out Andrew Lloyd Webber
Subject: Watch out Andrew Lloyd Webber
So here we have a splurge to appeal to that small fraction of the American people, the musical lovers. An all-american, blue eyed blonde hair uppermiddle
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class workers come together to show us how rich they are and their desire to spend spend spend! So, the opening number, all 11 minutes of it, teaches us the importance of each region, and how rich each one is. This chipper and jolly suddenly breaks into a very jazzy and sleazy "money money money" tune, with a classic guy singing with girl chorus. The final chorus begins to fall apart with a repeatative dance followed by the very unclimatic ending. Overall, very strange, but hey, if it sold cars, good for you. PS look out for the girl in the green dress with blonde hair, is it a man or a girl? the Texas Region, "The Great Southwest"
Reviewer:
cybermace5
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
November 21, 2002
Subject: Never made it to Broadway
Subject: Never made it to Broadway
This is one of the most wrong things I have ever seen.
The video takes the viewer on a whirlwind adventure across the United States, depicting various ... appetizing markets and how to sell to them. From the opening chorus number "We're Your Market" to the various U.S. sales regions popping up like gophers from the map and singing solos, this legendary work of the stage will leave you breathless.
After, of course, rolling on the floor clutching yourself in hysterical laughter, screaming "NO! NO! MAKE IT STOP, PLEASE! AHAHAHAA!"
This musical will help you realize why people thought the original live-action Batman & Robin was so spiffy and swell.
The video takes the viewer on a whirlwind adventure across the United States, depicting various ... appetizing markets and how to sell to them. From the opening chorus number "We're Your Market" to the various U.S. sales regions popping up like gophers from the map and singing solos, this legendary work of the stage will leave you breathless.
After, of course, rolling on the floor clutching yourself in hysterical laughter, screaming "NO! NO! MAKE IT STOP, PLEASE! AHAHAHAA!"
This musical will help you realize why people thought the original live-action Batman & Robin was so spiffy and swell.
There are 12 reviews for this item. .
